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Circular No. 1. 



ALABAMA DIVISION 

United Daughters of The Confederacy^ 



HISTORICAL COMMITTEE. 



Statement of Plans and Work Proposed by the 
Committee. 



MRS. HARVEY E. JONES, 

Chairman. 



Spring Hill, Mobile Co., Ala., 

June 22, 1904. 

To the Chapters of the Alabama Division, U. D. C: 

The most important objects of our organization are literary and 
historical. The opportunities for a valuable and stimulative work 
through our Chapters are practically unlimited. 

In order that they may have the advantage of the matured con- 
sideration given the subject by the Committee, this circular is is- 
sued. 

Nothing can more fully illustrate the spirit in which we should 
work than the following grand words spoken by General Stephen 
D. Lee in his address to the Veterans at Nashville, Tenn., during 
the la*e reunion: 

"As the close of our days draw near, and the work of upbuild- 
ing our country passes on into younger and stronger hands, let us 
make it our mission, comrades, to tell the story. Do not let your 
children and grandchildren forget the cause for which we suffered. 



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Tell it not in anger. Tell it not in grief. Tell it not in revenge. 
Tell it proudly, as fits a soldier. Dwell on the gallant deeds, the 
pure motives, the unselfish sacnuce. Tell of the hardships en- 
dured, the battles fought, the men who bravely lived, the men who 
nobly died. Your dear comrades shall live again in your words. 

"This, my comrades, is your last commission. Do this for the 
dead, that they may be loved and honored still. Do this for the 
living, that they also may become worthy of love and honor. Do 
this for your country, that when the time is ripe, she may again be 
rich in heroes and in noble deeds. 

"At their mother's knee the coming generations shall learn from 
that tragic history what deeds makes men great and nations glori- 
ous. A people who do not cherish their past v/ill never have a 
future worth recording. The time is even now, that the whole peo- 
ple of the United States, are proud of the unsurpassed heroism, self- 
sacrifices and faithfulness of the soldiers and people of the Con- 
federacy." 

1. The Collection of Original Documents. — Scattered over the 
State in the hands of the survivors and their families are hundreds 
of original documents and papers whose value and importance to 
the correct history of the war cannot be overestimated. These con- 
sist of rosters, muster or pay rolls, war dairies, or journals, reports, 
commissions, discharges, paroles, and- other war papers. 

Our first duty is to collect and bring together everything of this 
character for permanent preservation. While many of our members 
are so much occupied that they cannot prepare formal papers, they 
can all co-operate in this part of our work. 

2. REMINISCENCES, 

It is recommended that the Veterans be requested to prepare 
reminiscent papers or short narratives of their experiences in the 
war, or of events coming under their observation. Properly pre- 
pared such papers will be of the highest value, and will rank as 
original, source, material. It is also recommended that the older 
women of the several Chapters prepare similar papers involving 
their experiences and recollections. 



3. CONFEDERATE RELICS. 

Ail relics of the Confederacy, such as arms, s-words, guns, dirks, 
knives, pistols, canteens, equipments, etc., etc., should be brought to- 
gether and forwarded to "The Director of Archives and History," 
Montgomery. These things should be gathered and preserved in 
order to illustrate the material side of our history. Placed in the 
authorized State Depository, in the Capitol building, they will be 
preserved for all time to come. 

4. HISTORY OF THE WOMEN OF AI,ABAMA. 

The story of the part played by the women of Alabama during 
the trying years — 1861-65 — forms the most thrilling and inspiring 
part of our history. It is our duty to collect the scattreed facts 
of that history. If we neglect this duty it will never be met. Let 
every incident and expei'ience illustrating the part taken by our 
noble women in the war be written and placed in our possession. 

5. SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR PAPERS. 

The following topics are suggested for the use of Chapters in 
their local programs: 

(1) The Election and Inauguration of Jefferson Davis as Presi- 
dent of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of 
America. 

(2) The First Year of the War. 
T3) Troops from Alabama. 

(4) Sketches of the General Officers of Alabama. 

(5) North Alabama during the War. 

(6) The Storj- of Emma Sansom. 

(8) Alabama War Governors: John Gill Shorter, Thomas Hill 
Watts. 

(9) The Battle of Mobile Bay. 

(10) Wilson's Raid Through Alabama. 

(11) Battle of Selma. 



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6. CHAPTER IIISTORIAX. 

The office of Chapter Historian is the most important in our 
organization. It is her duty to develop all the historical activities 
in the territory covered by her Chapter. The General Committee 
confidently relies on their prompt and energetic co-operation. The 
committee hereby urges them to take up the suggestions herein 
made, and to labor faithfully for their full development. 

The Historical Committee desires this to be the most active 
year since our organization. Its several members will devote their 
time and energies unremittingly to the duties imposed. If Chapters, 
individual members and Chapter Historians will do their part the 
full import of the results cannot be foreseen. 

Correspondence on any and all of the foregoing, or in reference 
to other subjects pertinent to this field of labor, is invited. 

Faithfully, 

Makiox Wilmeb Jones, 
Chairman Historical Committee, Ala. Div., U. D. C. 

COMMITTEE. 



Mrs. Harvey E. Jones, Spring Hill, Ala. 

Miss Eliza M. Bullock, Montgomery, Ala. 
Miss Mary Clayton, Eufaula, Ala. 

Mrs. M. N. Camper, Florence, Ala. 
Mrs. I. N. Stone, Opelika, Ala. 

Mrs. Alphonse Stolenwerck, Greensboro, Ala. 
Hon. Thos. M. Owen, Montgomery, Ala. 



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